Homemade Pasta Noodles

Homemade Pasta Noodles The only pasta shop providing hand made pasta & hands-on pasta classes & Friday Night Pasta Plates I am a fourth generation Italian American. e Farmers Market.

In our large Italian family, homemade pasta is #1. Our family takes pride in passing the pasta machine down the family tree but as our fast-paced lives progress many things take us out of the kitchen. Traditions become memories and stories of generations past and family techniques, inadvertently, become lost. I have been trained by three generations of strong women with traditional techniques to m

aking homemade pasta noodles. My grandma patiently taught me to pay close attention to the type of flour selected, the weight of the egg, the temperature of the room, the moisture in the dough, the amount of time you handle the dough, and the most important part; the thickness of the dough. The ingredients may be the same as dried pasta, but the taste is better, and the texture is better. Visit my website www.homemadepastanoodles.com to read more about the strong Italian women (and my Papa) who shaped my passion. Instagram: homemade_pasta_noodles

Read more in the Flatrock Together feature article from last summer. https://www.flatrocktogether.com/good-news/from-cinisi-to-flat-rock-with-love

Someone asked me; "How did you starting taking people to Italy/Sicily.It Began…In 2019, I started Homemade Pasta Noodles...
06/05/2026

Someone asked me; "How did you starting taking people to Italy/Sicily.

It Began…
In 2019, I started Homemade Pasta Noodles in my little Flat Rock home kitchen. At first, it was simply a cooking exchange — people gathering around a table, sharing stories, recipes, laughter, and traditions. None of us realized at the time how much those moments would change my life.

One evening, a participant in one of my classes shared stories from her travels through Sicily led by Tommaso. The way she described the villages, the food, the people, and the magic of Sicily completely captured my heart. It felt familiar somehow… like a place I already belonged.

She connected me with Tommaso, and we began communicating through email. I shared my dream of someday traveling to Sicily — especially to Cinisi, where part of my family came from.

When Tommaso learned my family roots were in Cinisi, he introduced me to Angela, who works within the town and deeply understands its culture, history, and spirit. Angela and I began exchanging emails, dreaming together about what a meaningful Sicilian journey could look like.

In 2022, I finally traveled to Sicily......And I fell completely in love.

The people.
The pace.
The beauty.
The connection to family and tradition.
The feeling that food is love.

Three years later, Homemade Pasta Noodles took its very first group trip to Sicily with the travel expertise of Angela, who carefully curated the entire itinerary. Every detail was thoughtful, personal, and magical. At the time, I also had an event coordinator (Thank you Kalee) helping keep our private group moving smoothly from one unforgettable experience to the next.

This July, Angela has helped me create another deeply special itinerary through Palermo, Cinisi, Cefalù, and beyond. We’ll experience my family’s village during festival season — a time filled with music, processions, celebration, tradition, and pure Sicilian magic.

And there’s more !!!!

Angela has also curated another incredible Sicily itinerary inspired by excursions I experienced this past January. I can't wait to host the Sicily trip March 9-17 2027 and share some of my favorite places with you… also discover a few new ones together along the way.

These trips are not just vacations....they are stories.
Meals shared around tables.
Family traditions.
Hidden villages.
Hands held while walking cobblestone streets.
Late-night laughter over pasta and wine.
Moments you carry home forever.

If you would like first access to the upcoming Sicily journey, with The Pasta Lady, get on the “Interested List”. [email protected]

The completed itinerary and pricing will be available at the end of next week.

I cannot wait to share Sicily with you.

— Launa
The Pasta Lady

When most people think of Sicilian cuisine, they often picture seafood, citrus, cannoli, or arancini. But ask a Sicilian...
05/31/2026

When most people think of Sicilian cuisine, they often picture seafood, citrus, cannoli, or arancini. But ask a Sicilian grandmother what ingredient truly represents the island, and there's a good chance she'll answer:

Eggplant.

Known as melanzana in Italian, eggplant arrived in Sicily centuries ago through Arab influence and became one of the defining ingredients of Sicilian cooking. The island's warm climate produces beautiful eggplants with a mild flavor and creamy texture, making them a staple in home kitchens from Palermo to Catania.

Eggplant appears throughout Sicilian cuisine and I have eaten them all:

Caponata
Eggplant Parmigiana
Stuffed Eggplant
Grilled Eggplant Salads
Eggplant Preserves
Pasta alla Norma

Of all these dishes, none is more famous than Pasta alla Norma.
The Story of Pasta alla Norma
Pasta alla Norma originated in the city of Catania on Sicily's eastern coast.
Legend says that after tasting the dish, Sicilian playwright and poet Nino Martoglio exclaimed:

"Chista è na vera Norma!"
Meaning, "This is a true Norma!"

He was comparing the pasta to the celebrated opera Norma, composed by Catania native Vincenzo Bellini.
The name stuck, and today Pasta alla Norma is considered one of Sicily's most iconic dishes.

Traditional Pasta alla Norma
Serves 4
Ingredients
1 pound pasta (rigatoni, fresh fettuccine)
2 medium eggplants, cut into ¾-inch cubes
Olive oil for frying
3 cloves garlic, sliced
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
½ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)
¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
1 cup grated ricotta salata
Instructions
1. Prepare the Eggplant
Place cubed eggplant in a colander and lightly salt.
Let sit 30 minutes.
Pat dry thoroughly.
Fry in olive oil until golden brown and tender.
Transfer to paper towels.

2. Make the Sauce
In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil.
Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
Add tomatoes, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Simmer 20–25 minutes.

3. Cook the Pasta
Cook pasta in generously salted water until al dente.
Reserve 1 cup pasta water.
Drain.

4. Finish the Dish
Add pasta to the tomato sauce.
Toss gently.

Add a splash of pasta water if needed.

Fold in half the fried eggplant.
Plate and top with remaining eggplant.
Finish generously with ricotta salata and fresh basil.

The Pasta Lady's Tip

Many Sicilian families fry the eggplant hours before serving. The eggplant softens slightly as it rests and absorbs even more flavor from the sauce.

And while substitutions happen outside Sicily, traditional Pasta alla Norma is always finished with ricotta salata, not mozzarella or Parmesan. Its salty, tangy flavor is what makes the dish unmistakably Sicilian.

Serve with good bread

From My Kitchen to Yours

Every summer, as eggplants begin appearing at farmers markets across Western North Carolina, I think of the home cooks of Sicily who have been preparing this dish for generations.

Simple ingredients.
A little patience.
A lot of love.

That's the Sicilian way.

Buon Appetito!

Launa "The Pasta Lady" Tierney
Homemade Pasta Noodles
Hendersonville, North Carolina

"The simplest dishes often tell the richest stories." 🇮🇹🍆🍝

There’s only one question this summer…Can you Beat the Pasta Lady? Our Third Annual “Beat the Pasta Lady” Competition i...
05/29/2026

There’s only one question this summer…

Can you Beat the Pasta Lady?

Our Third Annual “Beat the Pasta Lady” Competition is back.

Event Details
When: Saturday, August 1, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Where: Homemade Pasta Noodles
719 Maple Avenue
Hendersonville, NC

THE CHALLENGE
Three chefs. One kitchen. One chance to win.
Each competing chef will:
Receive $20 in Farmers Market tokens to shop for ingredients (protein optional)
Be given fresh fettuccine from Homemade Pasta Noodles (required in the dish)
Have 2 hours to create 4 plates (3 for judges, 1 for photos)
The twist?
Your dish does NOT have to be Italian… it just has to include our fettuccine.

THE RULES (No shortcuts here)
No outside ingredients or equipment
Recipes are allowed (and encouraged!)
Bring your own knives if you’d like
You may use anything available in our shop
A “runner” will be provided for equipment or support
No assistants, helpers, or sidelines coaching
This is your moment—just you and your pasta.

🏆 JUDGING
At 12 PM sharp, judges will be seated for a blind tasting.
Each dish will be scored on:
Presentation
Originality
Taste
The votes are secret. The competition is not 😉

🎯 WANT IN?
We are looking for ONE final chef to complete the lineup.
👉 Be the FIRST to email me the word “PASTA”
…and claim your spot in the competition.
[email protected]

THE PRIZE
The winner's fettuccine dish will be featured at our hugely popular, and always sold out Friday Pasta Dinner on August 21, 2026. The winning chef will prepare their winning dish for a full house.

👀 JUST WANT TO WATCH?
Come experience the energy, the creativity, and the chaos.
👉 Attend the whole event, leave your email, and you’ll receive a $5 OFF coupon for our wildly popular Friday Night Pasta Plates.

Three chefs walk in… only one beats the Pasta Lady.
👉 Will it be you?

Email: [email protected]

Address

719 Maple Street
Hendersonville, NC
28792

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Homemade Pasta Noodles posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Homemade Pasta Noodles:

Shortcuts

Share